Automatic consistency-regulating process and apparatus.



E. J. TRHVIBEY.

AUTOMATIC CONSISTENCY REGULATING PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT115,19l5.

L178 193. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

BY 1 414441 m M ATTORNEYS E. J. TRIMBEY. AUTOMATIC CONSISTENCYREGULATING PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FlLED SEPT. I5, 1915.

l a 178, l 93, Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IN l/E/V T01? Edward (fa/mas 7/ /6756)! BY wwd BM W MATTORNEYS is also important,

EDWARD J. TRIMBEY, OF GLENS FALLS NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC GONSISTENCY-REGULATING PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 191a.

Application filed September 15, 1915. Serial No. 50,788

To all whom it may concern:

L-Be it known that I, EDWARD J. TRIMBEY, a citizen of the United States,residing in Glens Falls, county of Warren, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in, AutomaticConsistency-Regulating Processes and Apparatus; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the'.nvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a process-and apparatu's for regulatingautomatically the per cent. consistency of wet pulp as it is beingpumped to the heaters or to mixing tanks, or of wet paper stock, as itis pumped to the head box of the paper machine, or of the Jordan engine,where it is to be further refined. Such pulp or'paper stock commonlyconsists of about 3 to 5 parts of bone .dry matter in 100 parts of wetpulp or paper stock, and such percentage. of bone dry matter is commonlyreferredto as the per cent. consistency.

It is important, in the manufacture, of paper, and of other articlesfrom pulp, that the pulp or paper stock should have theproperconsistency, and that, when too thick, the proper amount of-watershould be added so that the pulp-or paper stock shall be of uniformconsistency, and the resulting paper of uniform weight per unit area. Itwhen two different kinds of pulp or paper stock are to be mixed with'each other, that each of these should be maintained of uniformconsistency to prevent variations in the composition of the resultingmixture. The present invention relates to the automatic regulation andmaintenance of such uniform consistency.-

The invention will be described more particularly in connection with theregulation ofpulp, inasmuch as the regulation of paper stockis effectedin the same manner, but it will be understood that the term pulp, whenthus referred to, is used with a more general signification.

The novel apparatus of the present invention comprises a stuff meter orregulating apparatus of the nature described in my Patent No.1,161,168,,granted November 23, 1915, and inmy application Serial No.50,789, filed September 15, 1915, together with automatic means forcontrolling the supply of water'and the dilution of the pulp to itspredetermined lower consistency. Such stuff meter or regulatingapparatus, as described in said applications, comprises, briefly, aconstant level chamber having a discharge orifice maintained under aconstant head of the pulp or paper stock, and a variable level chamberarranged to receive the pulp or paper stock discharged from said orificeand provided with an outlet pipe of suitable size and proportion tocause ,a frictional resistance to the flow of the pulp or paper stocktherethrough, and thereby maintain a head of the pulp or paper stockwithin the chamber varying with its consistency and frictionalresistance.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more in detail withreference to the constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawings,it being intended and understood that the invention will be illustratedby, but is not limited to, the specific embodiments thereof thusillustrated and described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows, partly in section andpartly in elevation, an arrangement of apparatus embodying theinvention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of part of the apparatus of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the construction of Fig. 2, with therod 17omitted, and Fig. l

shown). This supply pipe '6 is shown as a bran h leading from the mainsupply pipe 7 towhich the pulp is fed to the paper machine or to othersuitable place of use or of further treatment. The main stuff chest isindicated at 9, and a suitable circulating pump at 8. From thecompartment 3 the 1 described in my Patent No. 1,161,168. This chamberis divided by an ad ustable partition 12, held in place by suitableguides, into two compartments, into one of which 13 the pulp is receivedfrom the discharge orifice 5. The outlet of this chamber is of asuitable size and proportion to cause a frictional resistance to thepassage of the pulp therethrough and thereby maintain a head of pulpwithin the chamber varying with-the pulp consistency. This outlet, asshown, has a restricted outlet portion 14 for increasing the resistanceto the outflow of the pulp, and discharges into the pipe 15 from whichthe pulp is returned to the stufl chest.

Within the compartment of the chamber 11 on the opposite side of thepartition 12 to that where the pulp is received, is a float 16 having anupwardly extending stem 17 moving in suitable guides 18, this floatbeing arranged to rise and fall with the level of the pulp in thechamber 11. The construction of the chamber 11 is such that the outletis on the side opposite to that of the 1nlet, so that the whole body ofpulp will be kept in circulation, while the float will be protected fromspattering and from interference by the entering pulp.

Attached to the upper end of the float rod 17, by means of a set screwor other adjustable pivotal connection 19, is a bell crank 20 having abearing 29 in the support 28, and attached at its other end to aconnecting link 21, pivoted to the double pawl 22. This double eitherside of the ratchet wheel 23 and to rotatethe same in oppositedirection. The

pawl is itself reciprocated by an eccentric 24 which is in 'turn drivenby a gear 25 mounted upon the shaft 26 and driven by a pulley 27 fromany suitable source of power such as the stuff pump or the papermachine.

The ratchet wheel 23 is mounted between fixed lateral bearings 30 uponthe support 28 and is thus restrained from lateral movement. It isthreaded upon the operating rod 31 so that rotation of the ratchet wheelmoves this rod to a corresponding extent. The rod 31 is connected at itsother end to the valve stem 35 of'a suitable valve for regulatingthewater supply, through the pipe 42, to the pulp or paper stock. Thiswater supply pipe is shown as leading to the discharge pipe between thestufi chest and the circulating pump.

Mounted upon the rod 31 are two stops 32 and 33, adjustable thereon, sothat they can be moved into position to engage the double pawl 22 anddisengage it from the ratchet Wheel.

pawl is arranged to engage with wheel when the rod 31 has moved to apredetermined position in either direction. In practice these stops willbe arranged to disengage the pawl when the valve has opened or closed toa predetermined extent.

The construction of Fig. 4 is similar to that of Fig. 1, but differs inthe type of the variable level chamber 34, which is of the typedescribed in my application, Serial No. 50,789, filed September 15,1915. This variable level chamber comprises a pivotally supportedchamber having a restricted outlet pipe or spout 35 terminating in adischarge portion 36 which discharges into a return pipe 37,corresponding to the pipe 15 of Fig. 1, for returning the pulp to thestuff chest. The chamber 34 is supported at one end of the arm 38, whichis in turn supported by a suitable support 39. and which is connected atits other end to an operating rod 40 carrying weights 41 sufficient tocounterbalance the chamber 34 when the pulp therein is of the desiredconsistency. The rod 40 is further steadied by the spring balance 42,which absorbs slight variations in the weight of the chamber 34 and thusprevents continual movement of the pawls into engagement with theratchet The operating rod 40 corresponds to the operating rod 17 of Fig.1.

In the operation of the apparatus described, the pulp or paper stock iscirculatedfrom the stuff chest 9 through the pump 8 to the main supplypipe 7, and a suitable portion is drawn 01f through the branch pipe 6and introduced into the bottom of the compartment 3. The excess pulpoverflows the partition 2 and returns to the stuff chest, therebymaintaining a constant head within the compartment 3. From the bottom ofthis compartment the pulp is discharged under this constant head intothe variable level chamber 11. The rate of flow into this chamber isdetermined by the size of the orifice 5, and is relatively constantowing to the constant head and to the minimum of frictional resistanceoffered to the passage of the pulp through the thin orifice.

The head within the chamber 11 of Fig. 1, or the corresponding chamber34 of Fig. 4, is largely controlled and determined by the frictionalresistance opposing the flow of the pulp through the outlet therefrom.This frictional resistance will vary with the per cent. consistency ofthe pulp, the head increasing with the increase in consistency until itis sufficient to overcome the frictional resistance. The level of thepulp will accordingly indicate the consistency of the pulp, and willalso indicate the amount of water which must be added to it to dilute itto a predetermined lower consistency.

In the construction of Fig. 1, any increase in head of the pulp withinthe variable level chamber 11 will cause a corresponding rise vapparatus of Fig. 4, any increase in the conv sired. to maintain at thewet pulp can sistency will cause an increase in the head within thechamber 34, with resulting increase in weight, this increase in weightbeing due mainly to the increase in head, but in part to the increase inconsistency of the pn p itself.

In the automatic relation of the apparatus, the parts will be so,positioned and arranged that, so long as the per cent. consistencyremains within the desired limits, no.

change in the position of the regulating valve, and the amount of wateradded, will be necessary. In this position,

neither side of thedouble pawl will engage with the ratchet wheel 23. Ifthe consistency of the pulp mcreases, the stem 17 of- Fig. 1,. or thecorresponding stem 4:0.of Fig. 4, will rise and will draw the link 21and the double pawl 22 to the right, thus causing the lefthand side ofthe pawl to engage with the.

ratchet Wheel 23 and rotate this Wheel. Since the Wheel is preventedfrom moving sidewise by the stops 30, it will act as a nut upon thethreaded rod 31, moving this rod to the left and opening the valve to acorresponding extent, thus admitting more water to the pulp which isbeing circulated. This Water is advantageously added to the pulp at somepoint in the pipe line between the stuff chest and the regulating box orheater, so that its eflfect will befelt at the stufi' meter as quicklyas possible.

Should the per cent. consistency of the pulp or paper stock decrease,the stem of the operating rod 17 or 10 will be corre-. spondinglvlowered, with the result that the right hand side of the pawl 22 willengage prevent any further movement of the valve departing from thespirit and-scope of stem.

In using the apparatus of the present invention, and practising theprocess of the present invention therein, it is advantageous to have thepulp in the supply chests at a somewhat higher consistency than it isdethe head box of the paper machine. or in the mixing tanks, to add asuitable amount of water for thinning to the proper consistency; for,while be easily diluted if of too more particularly and high aconsistency, it cannot be readily drawn oil? into the constant levelchamber a 1, and which is discharged therefrom under a constant headinto the variable level chamber 11 or 34., has already been diluted bythe addition of the proper amount of water through the pipe 12, thiswater being thoroughly mixed with the pulp by the pump 8. The dischargeof the pulp through the orifice 5 is relatively constant, due to theconstant head under which the discharge takes place. Such slightvariations as may occur in practice do not interfere with thesatisfactory operation in this respect. The variations in the head ofthe pulp within the variable level chamber will accordingly correspondto the variations in the pulp consistency, inasmuch as the frictionalresistance corresponding to such head, also corresponds to theconsistency of the pulp. The operation of the apparatus will accordinglybe automatically controlled by the consistency of the pulp, and withonly occasional supervision by the operator. The automatic control willmoreover be effected by drawing. off only a small part of the pulp fromthe main supply pipe, the major portion of this pulp being passeddirectly to the point of further treatment or use. Nevertheless, thedesired automatic regulation is obtained in an advantageous manner, bythe small portion of the pulp thus drawn ofl, and thus being continuallycirculated through the constant and variable level chambers abovedescribed.

While the invention has been described in connection with theembodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and inconnection with the regulation of wet paper pulp, yet it will beunderstood, that variations and modifications can be made in theconstruction thus illustrated and described, witholut t e invention, andthat wet paper stock can be treated in the same manner as wet pulp, ashas been already pointed out.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic regulating apparatus for wet pulp and wet paper stock,compristially as described.

or paper stock discharged from said orifice and provided with an outletof suitable size and proportion to cause a frictional resistance to theflow of the pulp or paper stock therethrough, and thereby maintain ahead of the pulp or paper stock within the chamber varying with itsconsistency and frictional resistance, and means actuated by variationsin the head of pulp or paper stock in such variable level chamber forautomatically regulating the addition of water to the pulp or paperstock; substantially as described.

An automatic regulating apparatus for wet pulp and wet paper stock,comprising a constant level chamber having a discharge orificemaintained under a constant headof the pulp or paper stock,

a variable level chamber arranged to receive the pulp or paper stockdischarged from said orifice and provided with an outlet of suitablesize and proportion to cause a frictional resistance to the flow of thepulp or paper stock therethrough, and thereby maintain a head of thepulp or paper stock within the chamber varying with its consistency andfrictional resistance, an operating rod arranged to be operated byvariations in the head in said chamber, a water supply for diluting thepulp or paper stock to a lower consistency provided with a regulatingvalve, a ratchet wheel arranged to operate upon said valve, a doublereciprocating pawl for operating said ratchet wheel in oppositedirections to open or close said valve, means for eflectingreciprocation of said pawl, and means connecting said operating rod andpawl for moving the pawl into and out of engagement with said ratchetwheel, whereby the water supply is controlled by the consistency of thepulp or paper stock, and the head thereof in said variable levelchamber; substantially as described.

3. An automatic regulating apparatus for wet pulp and wet paper stock,comprising a water supply pipe for diluting the pulp to a lowerconsistency having a regulating valve therein, a reciprocating rod foroperatlng sald valve,

a ratchet wheel threaded upon said rod and arranged between fixedabutments whereby rotation of the ratchet wheel efi'ects movement of therod, a double reciprocating pawl arranged to operate upon opposite sidesof said ratchet wheel torotate the same in opposite directions, meansfor effecting reciprocation of said pawl, and means actuated byvariations in the pulp consistency for moving said pawl into and out ofengagement with both sides of said ratchet wheel, whereby the watersupply is regulated by the pulp consistency; substan- 4. An automaticregulating apparatus for wet pulp and wet paper stock, comprising aWater supply pipe for diluting the pulp to a lower consistency having aregulating valve therein, a reciprocating rod foropen' ating said valve,a ratchet wheel threaded upon said rod and arranged between fixedabutments whereby rotation of the ratchet wheel efl'ects movement of therod, a double reciprocating pawl arranged to operate upon oppositesidesof said ratchet wheel to rotate the same in opposite directions, meansfor effecting reciprocationvof said pawl, means actuated by variationsin the pulp consistency for moving said pawl into and out of engagementwith both sides of said-ratchet wheel, and stops on said rod arranged todisengage said pawl and ratchet wheel at predetermined positions,whereby the water supply is regulated by the pulp consistency;substantially as described.

5. An automatic regulating apparatus for wet pulp and wet paper stock,comprising a stufi chest, a constant level chamber havmg a dischargeorifice and an overflow for malntainlng a constant head of the pulp orpaper stock therein, means for continuously circulating the pulp orpaper stock from the stufi chest to said chamber, and from the overflowthereof back to the stuff chest, a variable level chamber arranged toreceive pulp or paper stock discharged from said orifice and providedwith an outlet of suitable size and proportion to cause a frictionalresistance to the flow of the pulp or paper stock'therethrough, andthereby maintain a head of the pulp or paper stock within the chambervarying with its consistency and frictional resistance, and means forreturning the pulp or paper stock from said outlet to the stufl chest;substantially as described.

6. An automatic regulating apparatus for wet pulp and wet paper stock,comprising a stufl chest, a constant level chamber having a dischargeorifice and an overflow for maintaining a constant head of the pulp orpaper stock therein, means for continuously circulating the pulp orpaper stock from the stuff chest to said chamber, and from the overflowthereof back to the stuff chest, a variable level chamber arranged toreceive the pulp or paper stock discharged from said orifice andprovided withian outlet of suitable size and proportion to cause africtional resistance to the flow of the pulp or paper stocktherethrough, and thereby maintain a head of the pulp or paper stockwithin the chamber varying with its consistency and frictionalresistance, a water supply for diluting the pulp or paper stock to alower consistency, means actuated by variations in the head of the pulpor paper stock in said variable level chamber for automaticallyregulating such water supply, and means for returning the pulp or paperstock from said outlet to the stuff chest; substantially as de scribed.

ency of pulp or paper stock, which comprises a head of pulp in saidchamber varying with maintaining a body of the pulp in a state of thepulp consistency, and automatically con 10 constant circulation andunder a constant trolling the addition of water, to the pulp, head,drawing ofi a portion of the pulp in a in accordance with the variationsin the continuous manner and passing the same head of the pulp in saidchamber; substanthrough a variable level chamber offering a tially asdescribed. frictional resistance to the passage of the In testimonywhereof I affix my signature. 15

pulp therethrough and thereby maintaining EDWARD J. TRIMBEY.

